Charlotte Hornets (11-22) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (14-20)
January 2, 2026 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Milwaukee Bucks -6.5; Over/Under: 233.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Milwaukee Bucks play host to the Charlotte Hornets at the Fiserv Forum on Friday night. Here’s a Bucks vs Hornets Prediction. This article will include a Bucks vs Hornets Pick.
Charlotte Hornets Betting Preview
The Charlotte Hornets have been in decent form as they’ve split their last eight games and they will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat after getting beaten by the Warriors in a 132-125 loss on Wednesday. Brandon Miller led the team with 33 points on 14 of 29 shooting, LaMelo Ball added 27 points with five rebounds and five assists while Kon Knueppel chipped in with 20 points and eight assists on seven of 11 shooting. As a team, the Hornets shot 52 percent from the field and 16 of 40 from the 3-point line as they kept pace with the Warriors through three quarters to take the lead. However, they let themselves down in the fourth quarter where they got outscored by 34-25 to lose by single digits in the end.
Milwaukee Bucks Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks have been in a slump as they’ve lost five of their last eight games overall and they will be hoping to bounce back after falling just short to the Wizards in a 114-113 loss on Wednesday. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team with 33 points, 15 rebounds and three assists, Kevin Porter Jr added 19 points with six rebounds and five assists on nine of 17 shooting while Ryan Rollins chipped in with 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. As a team, the Bucks shot 46 percent from the field and 16 of 39 from the 3-point line as they allowed the Wizards to get off to a flyer and found themselves in a real battle. They still held a narrow lead until the Wizards’ CJ McCollum drained the game winner with just 1.3 seconds left on the clock to snatch the game away.
Why the Milwaukee Bucks will win
- The Hornets have lost each of their last seven road games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Bucks have won each of their last six home games against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back.
- The Hornets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last seven road games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Bucks have covered the spread in each of their last six home games against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back.
Why the Charlotte Hornets will win
- The Bucks have lost each of their last six games following a home loss.
- The Hornets have won three of their last five games as underdogs against Central Division opponents following a loss.
- The Hornets have covered the spread in each of their last six games as road underdogs against Central Division opponents following a loss.
- The Bucks have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six home games following a home loss.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Bucks’ last seven home games have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Seven of the Hornets’ last eight road games have gone UNDER the total points line.
Milwaukee Bucks Player Facts
- Myles Turner has recorded 4+ blocks in two consecutive appearances – longest active streak of any player in the league.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of only two players to have recorded a 30-point, 20-rebound game this season.
Charlotte Hornets Player Facts
- Kon Knueppel ranks 2nd in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for FT% (90.0%) this season.
- LaMelo Ball ranks 5th amongst qualified players for three-pointers made per 36 minutes (4.2) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Bucks rank 30th in the league for offensive rebounds per game this season (8.5).
- The Bucks rank 30th in the league for free throw percentage this season (73.1%).
- The Hornets rank 30th in the league for opponent three-point percentage this season (38.8%).
- The Hornets rank 1st in the league for opponent free throws made per game this season (17.0).
Bucks vs Hornets Prediction
The Hornets are still missing Moussa Daibate, Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kalkbrenner, while the Bucks are still without Taurean Prince. The Hornets have sprung to life with a few good wins after a slow start to the season, and they will like their chances against this struggling Bucks squad, who just lost to the Wizards in their last outing. This is a tough one to pick, but the Hornets have looked dangerous lately with Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball stepping up lately. I think they can pull off the upset on the road with the Bucks mired in a poor slump.
